SRP Plans to Donate $1Million in Ratepayer Fees and Services to Super Bowl

Arizona utility provider Salt River Project (SRP) wants to donate $1million dollars in ratepayer money to the 2015 super bowl host committee. Just before the New Year, the SRP board met to hear proposals and discuss plans for a potential $1million dollar donation in cash, services and electricity to the local Super Bowl Committee that helps put on the big event in Glendale.

“It is a big deal and it is a huge economic engine,” said a board member. “There are branding benefits.”

It’s the same logic that, despite the effective monopoly on power, SRP uses to advertise in general. They’ve got to sell programs they feel will benefit the community and the Super Bowl is just another vehicle to do it.

“Salt River Project as a public utility has a message to bear, you can’t sell a secret,” says Keith Woods, SRP Board of Directors.

It is not uncommon for local communities to raise money in order to help support businesses and events surrounding the Super Bowl, however some are questioning whether SRP’s current elected President, David Rosseau, may have a conflict of interest. You see, Rosseau also happens to be the Chairman of the Super Bowl Host Committee, which is responsible for helping to raise $25 million dollars from the local community to support the event.

SRP’s proposed donation comes on the heels of a 3.9% rate increase approved by the board back in September. The rate hike, which took effect in November last year, added an additional $6.17 to the average consumer bill.